Boat propulsion unit



G. G. COLLIER BOAT PROPULSION UNIT April so, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 20. 1960 INVENTOR. Gilbert 6. Collier QQZZQJZM ATTORNEY April 30,1963 e. e. COLLIER BOAT PROPULSION UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.Gilbert 6. Collier Filed May 20, 1960 ATTORNEY United States PatentOfice 3,087,455 BOAT PROPULSION UNIT Gilbert G. Coltier, 2924 CatherineSt, Shreveport, La. Filed May 20, 1964 Ser. No. 30,670 3 Claims. (Cl.11525) This invention relates to pedal operated boats, and it hasparticular reference to propelling devices by which small boats can bemoved over water by the manipulation of levers or pedals, and wherespeed is not a requisite, as when used for fishing or hunting waterfowl, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provisionof a compact fin unit adapted to be installed in pairs on any type ofsmall row boat and operated from the interior thereof.

An object of the invention is that of providing a simple and economicaldevice capable of being installed in the sides of a boat, and having anoperating mechanism extending through the hull while completely sealingthe same against leakage.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a boatpropulsion mechanism by which the boat can be maneuvered about the waterby the feet while the hands can remain free to handle fishing gear,guns, and the like, as in fishing and hunting activities. It is.contemplated that the mechanism may be installed either fore or aft ofthe longitudinal center of the boat, or both forward or aft, as desired,and operated by one or two persons aboard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique butterfly typeof fin, pivotally connected to the operating levers, and hingedlongitudinally to fold upon itself whereby to present a minimum ofresistance in its forward movement while presenting its maximum surfaceto the water as it is moved rearwardly.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a fin assemblywhich in its inoperative positon, lies within a receptacle attached tothe sides of a boat whereby to present a minimum of resistance in theforward movement of the boat.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects willbecome manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection withthe appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustration of the propelling fin in extendedposition, and fragmentarily, in dotted lines, in closed position, theboat being fragmentarily shown.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded illustration, in perspective, showing the finand its receptacle plate, and the assembly of parts therefor.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective illustration of the fin in folded position inits forward stroke.

FIGURE 4 illustrates, in perspective, the pedal and linkage mechanisminside the boat for manipulating the pair of fins, the bow of the boatbeing fragmentarily how FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the finreceptacle plate, with portions cut away to fragmentarily show the finreposing therein with its longitudinal hinge, and illustrating theactuating lever both in dotted and solid lines in operative andinoperative positions, respectively of the fin,

FIGURE 6 is an elevational sectional view on lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5showing the sealing ring, the lever bearing plate and its housing.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, on lines 7-7 of FIGURE 5,showing the fin receptacle plate sealing ring, the lever bearing plateand its housing, and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the upper gasket for the bearing platehousing, the lower gasket being shown in dotted lines.

3,037,455 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 Referring to FIGURE 1, whichfragmentarily shows the boat 10', the invention primarily comprises afin receptacle plate 11 which is attached to the sides of the boat 10 byscrews 12, or other suitable device. The plate -11 is elongated in formand its forward portion 13 is preferably rounded and has a gradualtaper, as may be more readily seen in FIGURE 5.

Spaced rearwardly from the forward portion 13 of the plate 11 is arecess Which extends the remaining length thereof and is open at therear end 15 of the plate 11, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, to define ashallow receptacle 14 whose upper and lower walls 16 and 17 haveexterior rounded surfaces which, with the inwardly curved forward endportion 13 of the plate 11, presents minimum resistance as the boat 10is moved through the water.

A slot =18 is formed longitudinally in the plate 11 in the forwardportion -13 thereof and communicates with the forward rounded end of thereceptacle 14, as shown in FIGURE 1, through which the arm 19 of a finassembly 20 extends and is capable of a reciprocating motion in ahorizontal plane. The arm 19 is formed with a circular bearing plate 21,shown in FIGURE 2, and has its longitudinal axis angled obtusely withrespect to the pivotal axis 22 of the bearing plate 21. Another arm 23is formed with the plate 21 opposite the arm 19 and is axially alignedwith the pivotal axis 22 of the plate 21.

Secured at one end to the arm 19, as by welding, or other device, is arod 24 which provides a hinge for a pair of blades 25 and 26 whichtogether comprise a fin capable of propelling the boat 10 when moved inan arc toward the receptacle plate 11. Each of the blades 25 and 26 hasa pair of integral journals 27 and 28 by which the blades are pivotallyattached to the rod 24 at their inner or adjacent edges, as apparent inFIG- URE 2, so that the blades 25 and 26 can fold together in theirforward movement, as in the manner shown in FIGURE 3.

The blades 25 and 26 are normally extended in the positions shown inFIGURE 1 by a relatively light spring 29 coiled about the rod 24- andhaving portions 3% and 31 hearing against the blades 25 and 26 andreadily yieldable under water resistance when the fins are movedforwardly upon each. stroke.

A pair of cylindrical spacers 32 and 33 are arranged on the rod 24 toprevent movement of the blades 25 and 26 therealong, the inner spacer 33hearing against the shoulders 34 formed at the juncture of the rod 24with the arm 19, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The hinged blades 25 and 26are held in open position by engagement of their adjacent edges. Theblades 25 and 26 are prevented from being collectively rotated by theirengagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the arm I9 at theirinner ends, and by engaging a pin 35 arranged through the outer end ofthe rod 24, the latter being shown in FIGURE 2. The blades are retainedon the rod 24 by a nut 36 threaded on the outer end thereof.

The bearing plate 21, of which the arms 19 and 23 are integral parts ispivoted on a bushing 37 arranged on a bolt 38 which extends through anintegral semi-circular flange 39 on the inner surface of the receptacleplate 11 and through a conformable cover plate 40 which is secured ateach end to the fiange 39 by screws 41, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Theflange 39 has a recess 42 in its inner face to receive the bearing plate21 and, with the cover plate 40 provides a housing therefor, as shown inFIGURE 6.

The flange 39, with the cover plate as, is projected through a slot 43in a side of the boat 10, as shown in 3 FIGURES 4, 5 and 7, so that thearm 23 extends into the boat It} where a longitudinally adjustable link44 is pivotally attached by a clevis 45 to the outer end of the arm 23,a pin 46 being passed through the clevis and an aperture 47 in the endof the arm 23. A bushing 48 provides a bearing for the pin 46.

The opposite end of the link 44 has a clevis 49 thereon which ispivotally attached to crank arm 50 rigidly fixed to a shaft 51 rotatablysupported by hearing supports 52 and 53, the former being attached tothe inner wall of the boat 16 while the latter is secured to the bottomthereof, as shown in FIGURE 4. Attached to the inner end of the shaft 51is a pedal 54 by which the shaft can be oscillated by the foot to effectreciprocation of the fin assembly 26 through the link 44 and the arms 23and 19.

It has already been stated that the invention is installed in pairs, oneassembly on each side of the boat 10, and thus a pedal 54 is providedfor each of the fin assemblies 20. Each pedal 54 has its fulcrum locatednearer the heel portion thereof so that the greater portion is forwardto provide greater leverage in operating the fin assembly to propel theboa-t forward. The heel portions of the pedals 54 have upturned flanges55 to support the operators heels when the pedals 54 are depressedrearwardly to return the folded fin assemblies 2% to their operativepositions. This operation requires less leverage because the fins arebrought back to their operative positions more easily due to theirminimized resistance in the water.

To facilitate the operation of the leverage assembly provided by thelink 44, and the arms 23 and 19, the bearing plate 21, of which the arms19 and 23 are integral parts, is lubricated in its housing through aplurality of curved and diverging slots 56 and 57 formed in gaskets 53and 59 between the flange 39 and the undersurface of the plate 40, asshown in dotted and solid lines, respectively, in FIGURE 8 and in dottedlines in FIG- URE 5, and in the sectional view shown in FIGURE 7. Aconventional grease fitting 60 is threaded into the plate 40 whichcommunicates with the slots 56, as well as an arcuate slot 57 alsoformed in gaskets 58 and 59 to conduct the grease onto the surfaces ofthe plate 21 and about the perimeter thereof within its housing to aidin sealing the housing against leakageof water from the exterior of thecraft. Plugs 61, of a nubber-like material, are impressed in recesses 62formed in the flange 39 on forward and aft edges of the rotatablebearing plate 21 to further seal the bearing plate housing againstleakage.

A sealing ring 63 of a suitable yieldable material is arranged about theslots 43 in the sides of the boat 10 between the outer wall thereof andthe receptacle plate 11, as shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7.

The structure herein shown and described is obviously capable of certainchanges and modifications, by persons skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a small boat having opposing sides, each havingan opening therein forwardly of said boat and partially below the normalwater line, pedal means for propelling said boat, comprising, areceptacle plate for a pair of fin assemblies attached to each side ofsaid boat at said opening therein and covering said opening, each ofsaid plates having a recess formed substantially coextensive therewithand a slot providing an extension of the forward end of the recess ineach plate, a semi-circular flange formed with the inner face of eachplate and extending through the opening in each side of said boat, eachsaid flange having a recess extending across its upper face aligned withthe bottom of each said opening, a cover plate secured to the upper faceof each flange and beyond the sides of said recess therein, a circularbearing plate, having inner and outer arms formed on opposite sidesthereof, pivotally secured in the recess of each flange and between saidflange and said cover plate, whereby the outer arms extend through theopenings in said boat exteriorly thereof and the other of said armsextends interiorly of said boat, a rod integral with and forming anextension of each of the exteriorly extending arms, a pair of bladeshingedly connected to each of said rods along their adjacentlongitudinal edges and foldable upon themselves upon horizontal pivotalmovement of said rods forwardly of said boat, a pair of shafts rotatablyarranged transversely of the bottom of said boat, each having a crankarm fixed thereon, and a link operatively connecting each said crank armto the inner end of each of said interiorly extending arms of saidbearing plate, and a pedal fixed to each of said shafts for rotating thesame to oscillate said bearing plates and the arms formed therewithwhereby to operate said hingedly connected blades on said rods.

2. The structure of claim 1, the receptacle plate having an elongatedrecess, substantially coextensive with its Width, in its outer face,rearwardly thereof, and the slot of the receptacle plate communicatingwith the forward end of the recess, the rod being movable pivotally withthe arm from a retracted position, in which the oppositely extendingblades and the rod are received in the recess, to an extended positionin which the blades and the rod extend laterally outwardly and forwardlyrelative to the direction of movement of the boat.

3. The structure of claim 2, a resilient sealing ring surrounding theopening of the sides of said boat, between the sides and the receptacleplate, a pair of resilient spacer elements between the flange and itscover plate, forwardly and rearwardly of the arm, whereby the flange andits cover plate are connected under tension, a pair of gaskets onopposite sides of the arm, between the arm and the flange and its coverplate, providing a fluid seal therebetween, the gaskets havinglubricating channels therein for application of a lubricant to theoppored surfaces of the arm and the flange and its cover plate toprovide a more fluid tight joint therebetween while at the same timepermitting free pivotal movement of the lever relative to the flange andits cover plate, and a lubricating fitting operatively connected to thecover plate and communicating with the lubricating channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 44,380Bachmann Sept. 27, 1864 2,715,884 Greenlee Aug. 23, 1955 2,733,680Wagner Feb. 7, 1956 l

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SMALL BOAT HAVING OPPOSING SIDES, EACH HAVINGAN OPENING THEREIN FORWARDLY OF SAID BOAT AND PARTIALLY BELOW THE NORMALWATER LINE, PEDAL MEANS FOR PROPELLING SAID BOAT, COMPRISING, ARECEPTACLE PLATE FOR A PAIR OF FIN ASSEMBLIES ATTACHED TO EACH SIDE OFSAID BOAT AT SAID OPENING THEREIN AND COVERING SAID OPENING, EACH OFSAID PLATES HAVING A RECESS FORMED SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE THEREWITHAND A SLOT PROVIDING AN EXTENSION OF THE FORWARD END OF THE RECESS INEACH PLATE, A SEMI-CIRCULAR FLANGE FORMED WITH THE INNER FACE OF EACHPLATE AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENING IN EACH SIDE OF SAID BOAT, EACHSAID FLANGE HAVING A RECESS EXTENDING ACROSS ITS UPPER FACE ALIGNED WITHTHE BOTTOM OF EACH SAID OPENING, A COVER PLATE SECURED TO THE UPPER FACEOF EACH FLANGE AND BEYOND THE SIDES OF SAID RECESS THEREIN, A CIRCULARBEARING PLATE, HAVING INNER AND OUTER ARMS FORMED ON OPPOSITE SIDESTHEREOF, PIVOTALLY SECURED IN THE RECESS OF EACH FLANGE AND BETWEEN SAIDFLANGE AND SAID COVER PLATE, WHEREBY THE OUTER ARMS EXTEND THROUGH THEOPENINGS IN SAID BOAT EXTERIORLY THEREOF AND THE OTHER OF SAID ARMSEXTENDS INTERIORLY OF SAID BOAT, A ROD INTEGRAL WITH AND FORMING ANEXTENSION OF EACH OF THE EXTERIORLY EXTENDING ARMS, A PAIR OF BLADESHINGEDLY CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID RODS ALONG THEIR ADJACENTLONGITUDINAL EDGES AND FOLDABLE UPON THEMSELVES UPON HORIZONTAL PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF SAID RODS FORWARDLY OF SAID BOAT, A PAIR OF SHAFTS ROTATABLYARRANGED TRANSVERSELY OF THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOAT, EACH HAVING A CRANKARM FIXED THEREON, AND A LINK OPERATIVELY CONNECTING EACH SAID CRANK ARMTO THE INNER END OF EACH OF SAID INTERIORLY EXTENDING ARMS OF SAIDBEARING PLATE, AND A PEDAL FIXED TO EACH OF SAID SHAFTS FOR ROTATING THESAME TO OSCILLATE SAID BEARING PLATES AND THE ARMS FORMED THEREWITHWHEREBY TO OPERATE SAID HINGEDLY CONNECTED BLADES ON SAID RODS.